January 2025 Amy MacFarlane, B.A Disability Studies (Hons.) M.A Counselling Psychology (Hons.) Registered Psychotherapist In 2008, Amy founded and led Recreational Respite with a strong vision and an unwavering commitment to the disability community. Under her leadership, Recreational Respite became a national organization that pioneered the idea of recreation as respite to create social connection […]
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Intersections: Grief Peer Support Register for Intersections Recreational Respite is grateful to have been awarded a grant from The Children’s Grief Foundation of Canada to deliver neurodivergent-affirming grief support to bereaved teens on the autism spectrum and/or intellectual disabilities across Canada. Recognizing that neurodivergent individuals process and express grief differently, this initiative addresses the need
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Published June 2024 – Updated April 2025. We’re thrilled to announce the official launch of the Caregiver Toolkit, in partnership with Hydrocephalus Canada, and proudly sponsored by the Rexall Care Network, a partnership dedicated to championing caregiver well‑being across Canada. Caregivers everywhere can download this dynamic, printable resource and immediately dive into interactive planning pages, self‑reflection exercises, and
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Recreation Knows No Limits: How Recreational Respite Promotes Inclusive Recreation At Recreational Respite, we believe that recreation should be accessible and enjoyable to all, regardless of age, ability, or background. That’s why we’re recognizing Inclusive Recreation Day on June 19, 2024! What is Inclusive Recreation? Inclusive recreation goes beyond simply providing access to facilities and
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Canadian ACT & FACT Virtual Learning Program Recreational Respite was invited by Ontario Association for ACT and FACT and the British Columbia Assertive Community Treatment Advanced Practice to deliver a national virtual learning workshop. ACT and FACT are community-based multidisciplinary teams, who use a person-centered service delivery model to support support individuals living with significant
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2021- 2023 An after school program was developed between Recreational Respite and the Simcoe County District School Board! We created innovative escape rooms that included take-away resources for the student and their parent/guardian to continue their learning and sustain the impact of the goals and outcomes. Participants worked through a series of puzzles, codes, games
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Group Programs at Camp Independence Summer 2022 Recreational Respite and L’Arche LONDON are working together this summer to bring summer camp (in-person) to the community for young adults with disability! The Independence Summer Camp at L’Arche London is two weeks long, and runs four times throughout the summer. The camp will be offering independent living
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January 2021 – present Challenger Baseball is an adaptive baseball program by the Jays Care Foundation, where kids living with physical and/or cognitive disabilities find a place on a team where they belong. Challenger Baseball ensures athletes of all abilities have the opportunity to play in a fun and safe environment where they learn to
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Partnership 2021-2023 (ongoing) Recreational Respite is partnering with Reena to serve adults with disabilities who are aging in Reena’s homes. We are providing group program evaluation, development and delivery, as well as one-to-one programming and individualized program plans, with outcomes that include social opportunities, movement and healthy lifestyles, activities of independence, and fine motor and
January 2023 It is with great excitement that we partner with Community Living Toronto to provide group programs (virtual, in person and hybrid models). The calendar is extensive addressing both soft skill development and recreational opportunities to ensure the community continues to comes together for social heath, connectivity and inclusion.
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